If you’re currently in the market wanting to purchase a used vehicle, then two factors should direct your decision-making process. One is the age of the vehicle and the other is the mileage. Usually, the older a car is, the cheaper it becomes to own it. Alternatively, a car that has clocked more kilometres (mileage) through its life will always cost less than the one that clocked fewer kilometres.
But, what should be done when you compare a two-year-old vehicle that has clocked 50,000 KM to a four-year vehicle that has clocked 25,000 KM? Which one should you pick – the age or the mileage (distance covered)? Well, that’s what we’re here to explain. Generally, you’d want to have a correct balance between mileage and age. However, in such cases, you also have to look for additional factors like the ownership of the car and how good it has been maintained over time.
Based On Mileage (Distance Covered)
According to professional services for WOF in Auckland, when you decide to purchase a used vehicle, mileage should always be an essential factor in the choice you’ll be making. A car having high mileage will have increased wear & tear on its components, so you should inspect it properly before purchasing.
On the flip side, a car that has low mileage (distance covered) doesn’t always mean that it’s a good thing to have. For instance, if a car hasn’t been used for a long time, then chances are that corrosion has set inside the components. Vehicles are meant to be driven and not parked away for long periods inside a garage. Sometimes, the non-usage of a vehicle will make the wheel cylinders or brake callipers get stuck during operation. Moreover, non-usage will also affect a vehicle’s plastic and rubber components, making them dry & brittle.
As a responsible car buyer, you have to perform your homework and thereby try to find more about the car’s past life. For example, was it used to take long road trips or only to tour around the city for short distances? Knowing the answers to such questions will help you determine whether you should be investing in the same or not.
Typically, when a vehicle is driven inside the city, the components inside the car will be subjected to more wear & tear because when driving in a city, vehicles have to constantly change gears, come to a halt, start-stop at traffic lights and so on. On the other hand, driving vehicles on the highways for long road trips won’t be subjected to the same level of component wear & tear.
Based On Age
Just like mileage is essential when deciding whether to purchase a used vehicle, similarly, the age of the vehicle matters too, especially if you live in an area where there are strong coastal winds that can wreak havoc on the internal components of a vehicle. For instance, driving a car around the coastal areas will be subjected to the deposition of salts & dust inside the components of the vehicle.
That’s why we suggest looking for symptoms of corrosion when purchasing an old, used vehicle. Moreover, you also have to look up the car model, release date and any change of parts along its entire lifetime. The servicing schedule followed by the owner of the vehicle should also be checked to ensure that it has been maintained properly over the years. Lastly, perform a proper test drive to know the return per litre of fuel and whether it’s driving properly on the road.
Conclusion: Mileage Vs Age – Which One To Pick?
If we’re to pick one, we’d go ahead with the mileage (distance covered). However, knowing the servicing & ownership history is also critical.
Infographic created by O’brien Toyota
